Activities

Greece: EU Ignores Deteriorating Rule of Law
Misleading Report Plays Down Curbs in Media, Civic Space

(Brussels, August 1, 2024) – The European Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law Report, published on July 24, 2024, misleads readers about the state of the rule of law in Greece at a time when media freedom and civic space face dire threats and attacks, 14 human rights and media freedom organizations said today.

The overly positive account in the report starkly contrasts an alarming reality experienced by journalists, activists, and civil society organizations on the ground, and a growing international concern over the deterioration of the rule of law in the country, which was highlighted by 17 human rights and press freedom groups in a February 2024 letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Hellenic League for Human Rights invites you to the Conference entitled:

Rights Today: gaps and challenges in their protection

1974-2024: 50 years after the ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights

Saturday, 25 May 2024, 09:00-18:00

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

“Alkis Argiriadis” Amphitheater (central building , 30 Panepistimiou st.)

The Hellenic League for Human Rights and the investigative journalism group The Manifold announce the launch of the project “SLAPP Proof: Advocacy for Freedom of Expression and Information”.

SLAPP Proof comes in response to one of the main challenges in the rights field: the shrinking right to freedom of expression and information is being challenged by the increasingly widespread practice of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). The project aims to develop a framework for protection against SLAPPs that will promote freedom of expression, support public participation and strengthen the rule of law in Greece through information, awareness raising and advocacy for protection against SLAPPs.

Greece: Rule of Law Threatened
Rights Groups Urge European Commission to Take Action

(Athens, February 6, 2024) – The European Commission should take immediate action to address the deterioration of media freedom and the rule of law in Greece and its impact on fundamental rights, 17 human rights and press freedom organizations said today in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Threats to the rule of law include an ongoing major surveillance scandal allegedly implicating the government in the targeted hacking of journalists’ devices, government interference with the media, abusive lawsuits against journalists and activists, and an overall unsafe working environment for journalists. Two unresolved murders of journalists in 10 years underscore the risks they face. In addition, under the New Democracy government, the authorities have used the criminal justice system to threaten civil society groups and activists. Registration requirements for nongovernmental groups working on migration and asylum have imposed an unreasonable burden on them.

The Hellenic League for Human Rights publishes a Good Practice Guide which presents good practices for addressing gender stereotypes when working with young audiences in education and in public discourse spaces, such as the media and advertising, in order to promote equality and inclusion.

Gender stereotypes have long been embedded in our society, persisting as deeply ingrained and pervasive beliefs about the characteristics and roles associated with women and men and are detected, among others, in young audiences and in places of public dialogue, such as the media and advertising.

Executive Summary

Defending and strengthening the rule of law in remains a core priority for Greek civil society against the backdrop of ongoing institutional decline in the country.

Independent organisations Vouliwatch, Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), HIAS Greece, Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR) and Reporters United document persisting deficiencies and emerging threats to the rule of law in Greece in their contribution to the European Commission’s annual monitoring of Member States’ systems through its Rule of Law Report.

Athens, 28 March 2023: On 17 March, the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) and the Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR) sent a joint letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of migrants, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe and the European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs.

PRESS RELEASE

THE ATTEMPT TO SILENCE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS CONTINUES. WHAT REMAINS TO BE DECIDED ARE ITS ACCOMPANYING MEASURES

Athens, 21/12/2022

On Tuesday, 20.12.2022, the interrogation of Panayote Dimitras took place, following criminal charges brought against him for “setting up a criminal organisation with the purpose of facilitating the illegal entry and stay in Greece of third country nationals”. Following the conclusion of the interrogation, the Investigating Magistrate and the Prosecutor agreed on imposing a prohibition on involvement with the Greek Helsinki Monitor, a civil society organisation of which he is a founding and core member since 1993, while they disagreed on the remaining measures that will be accompanying this prohibition. These are to be decided by the competent Judicial Council.

PRESS RELEASE

WITCH-HUNT AGAINST DEFENDERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN COMPLETE REVERSAL OF REALITY

Athens, 19 December 2022

European and international human rights monitoring bodies record systematic and continuous complaints regarding pushbacks (which are always illegal) of refugees at Greece’s borders. These complaints have become commonplace[1]; yet, instead of being investigated, the people and the organisations who denounce them and address the competent bodies are themselves targeted and accused of criminal charges.

Is there a difference between Citizenship and Nationality? Is everyone born in Greece automatically entitled to Greek citizenship or must they meet more conditions? Do they receive a national ID within a few months? And what about honorary naturalizations? How easy is it to become a Greek after all?

How much do we really know about Greek citizenship?

The publication “Greek Citizenship: A Mythbuster” aims to fill the information gap and the lack of meaningful dialogue on an issue that concerns us all: citizenship.

Hellenic League of Human Rights along with 11 civil society organizations and independent media addressed a letter to the Vice-President and Commissioner for Values and Transparency,  Vera Jourova and the member of LIBE committee of the european parliament, to express our serious concerns with regards to the continuous deterioration of the state of the Rule of Law in Greece.

Communication with the DGI Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Department for the Execution of Judgments of the ECtHR.

This submission has to be read in relation to the report submitted on the 3rd September 2018 and its addendum of the 16th October 2020 on the Nisiotis group of cases regarding the conditions of detention in prisons in Greece. It aims to provide further information on the current state of the art in relation to detention conditions in Greece and the observance of Art. 3 and to comment on legislative measures taken by the government.

Download the pdf file here.